Adapter for ignition systems.



J. A. HALL. ADAPTER Fos' IGNITION SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9,1I9I5.

aigei Nov. 12, 1918.

4 ...Ju M TTIAT fio 45, "'tainer therefor.

UNITED s anion,

JOHN A. HALL, F EAST ORANGE, NEW' JERSEY, ASSIGNR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TQ WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, fl. CCRPORATION CF NEW YORK.

ADAPTER FOR IGNITION SYSTEMS.

To 'all whom t may concern.' Be it known that I, JOHN ALDEN HALL, acitizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county ofEssex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Adapters for Ignition.l Systems, of which the followingis a full. clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention rel'ates to the conversion of ignition systems, in whichno master 'brator is employed, into systems in which aster vibrator maybe used, said conver ,being effected in the simplest possible .manner.

In certain Well-known ignition systems, such as the one commonly used onFord cars. there 1s yprovided a switch which, in one position.connectsone source of current in the ignition circuit, and in another positionconnects a second source of current to said circuit.

In such systems, if it is desired to operate the spark coils inconnection with a master vibrator, it is usual. to provide a second orauxiliary switch with said master vibrator. The addition of this secondswitch although quite expensive renders it possible for an unskilledperson to properly make the connections for introducing said mastervibrator into said ignition system. However. by

the means provided in this invention. it is possible to dispense withthis auxiliary switch and at the same time permit a layman to readilyconnect the master vibrator in any ignition system.

I In accordance with this invention there Ais provided an adapter whichmay be inserted in the base of the container for the induction or sparkcoils forming a part of the apparatus of an ignition system. Thisadapter comprises a body member of non-conducting materialr `providedwith suitable contact y strips for making connections automatically withcontacts on the induction coils and con= tacts usually located in thebase of a con Suitable terminals and #leading-out wires are provided:tor connect- Vilac.

i ing the adapter .in a circuit with the master Specification of Letterslatentn Application led ctober 9, 1915.

have the induction coils 1 independently re movable with respect to thecontainer l5 and each other, and they are adapted to be automaticallyconnected in the ignition circuit, when inserted in said container, bymeans of contacts 2 provided upon the base of each coil 'contacting withsuitable contact strips or members 3 located in the base thereof,

By means of a two-point switch el, which is usually mounted iii frontofthe driver, as on the dashboard of a car, a source of current 5 isadapted to be connected to the ignition system when such switch is inone position, and when moved to a second position a second source ofcurrent 6 is thereby connected to the operating circuit of the ignitionsystem. IThe spark coils l are connected to the respective spark plugs 8and to the timer 9 in any well known manner, thedrawing being Jmerelyschematic as to the relation of these elements to'each other.

It may be mentioned here that the switch le is usually complicatedbecause it is designed to make a car thief-prooi by renderv facturer toprovide a lock mechanism which can only be manipulated by an individualkind of a key, thus preventing the starting of the engine by anunauthorized person. 'Ihe switch and wires connected thereto areinclosed within a container. These features necessarily make the switch4 expensive and inaccessiblev under ordinary conditions.

It it is desired to operate the spark coils 1 of the abovedescribedsystem inconnection with a master vibrator, it is almostimpossible for a layman to make the proper connections between saidvibrator and the switch e as .the peculiar construction of said switchdoes not admit of .its ready connection with 'lining an adapter l0having a body portion l1 ot' non-conductiiw material suitable C1 size tobe inserted and lie at tlie nase of tli container l5.

0n the top surface oft tbe body oit the adapter is a contact strip forcaca ot the induction coils l, said strips being connected to acoinmonbus strip, "viiicl terminates at one end in a terminal sui torattaching a leading-out conductor On the under surface of the bodyportion ll is a second contact strip 14; adapted to make connection withtlie Contact. strips 3 secured in the base of the container i5. 'Eliestrip 14 is also provided with a leading-out, Wire 13. The "Wires 13 areintended to be connected directly to a master vibrator 'l'. When themaster vibrator is included in an ignition circuit by means of theadapter l0, the vibratingcontacts of the individual vibrators may besliort-circuited in any obvious manner, such, for example, as screwingdown the adjusting screws to substantially prevent vibration. The switchi is then eirabled to perform its complete function as illustrateddiagrannnatically in Fig. 93.

From the above description it will be apparent vthat by tlie adaptercontemplated by this invention an unskilled person may readort on 1liil)Y introduce a master vibrator for controlting?a tlie operation of aplurality of induction coils. Also, by means of this adapter, any typeof master vibrator is rendered suitable for use in any sort of anignition. system.

lVliat is claimed is:

ln au ignition system for explosive engines., a plurality o t inductioncoils, a con tainer therefor. a source of current supply ior saidinduction coils, means in said container adapted to connect saidinduction coils with said source of current, a master vibrator. andmeans comprising a non-conductingV body portion, a plurality ot contactstrips connected to a common bus strip secured vto one surface of saidbody portion, and a bus contact strip located upon the oppositie surfaceof said body portion relative to said contact strips for connect-ingsaid master vibrator in Circuit between said source oi current and saidinduction coils without change in external Wiring or con nections.

2. In an ignition system for explosive engines. tbe combination ivitb aplurality of induction coils. a container therefor` a source of current,contacts on said container connected to said source of current, andcontacts carried by said induction coils adapted to cooperate with said`first named contacts to connect the source of current to each it saidinduction coils when it is inserted in. the container, of a mastervibrator, and a set ot contacts comprising two groups each electricallyconnected to one of the terminals ot said master vibrator, said set ofcontacts being arranged for insertion in the container with one groupbearing against the contacts the container, and the other groupbearagainst tbe corresponding contacts on tbe induction' coils,-Wliereby the master vi'- brator is connected in a circuit including theinduction coils and the source of current.

l'n an ignition system for explosive engines, a plurality of inductioncoils, a container therefor, a source of current supply, connectingmeans in said container and confleeting means on said induction coilsadapted to cooperate with the connecting means in said container toconnect said induction coils with said source of energy` amastcrvibrator and a connecting plate adapted to he inserted in saidcontainer between the counecting' means therein, and the cornectingi.rmeans on said induction coils to include said master vibrator in circuitbetween said source or energy and said-induction coils.v

e. n an ignition system for explosive encines. tlie combination with aplurality of induction coils. a container theret'or, a plurality oisources of current, contacts ou said container. switching' means forconnecting said contacts to any of said sources of current, and contactscarried by said induction coils adapted to coperate with said firstnamed contacts to connect the said switching means to each of saidinduction coils when the coil is inserted in the container, of a mastervibrator anda set of contacts comprisionp two groups each electricallyconnected to one of the terminals of said master vibrator. said set ofContacts being arranged for insertion in tbe container with one groupbearing? aa'ainst the contacts on the c0ntainer. and 'the otliergroupbearing` against tlie corresponding contacts on the inductioncoils, n'lierebv tbe master vibrator is connected in a circuit includingthe induction coils and tlie switching means.

5. ein adapter for an ignition system comprising1 a non-conductingr bodyportion.' a plurality of Contact strips connected to a common bus stripsecured to one sur-tace of said body portion, a bus contact striplocated upon the opposite surface of said body portion relative to saidcontact strips, and conductors for making connection with said contactmembers.

6. In an ignition svstem for explosive engines. a. plurality ofinduction coils, a container therefor. a source of current supply forsaid induction coils, means in said conimei aaped t@ come@ sa ndueioncoils severaly aapted 'to engage said induction m seid; source ofculxent, a master vibrator Coils and a conductive strip to engage saidmeans or connecting said maser V- first-mentioned means. l() faimcircuit between said souree of curln witness whereof, l hereun'esubscribe nt and said nucton co1s,se. lastnamed my name this 7th day of@etobg A. 1l @mi eemprsmg pluray of Contact 1915.

s eenductvey @emeeted qgeher and JOHN A.. "U

